I'm missing some gear left by my second on the first pitch of Oddshouters Outing at The Ledge on TM. This happened on Friday (25th Jan) and I went up a few days later to go and retrieve it, but it was gone. If you have it, or know who does, please contact me so that I can arrange to get it back. It is a solid-shaft #2.5 Friend, a short blue and orange knotted sling and two karabiners, one straight-gate and one bent-gate. Thanks

I hope i am wrong but i am not surprised to see that there has been no positive response to this email ... sadly it seems that there are some climbers who subscribe to the view that \"if its left on the mountain its fair game\" ... pathetic actually. Sometimes inexperienced seconds can't remove gear with the result that it gets left behind. This does not mean that the leader has relinquished ownership or abandoned the gear with no intention of returning to collect it. You don't acquire ownership simply because you have possession so do the right thing and if you have this gear, and you know it is being sought, give it back.

Finders Keepers. If gear gets left in the hills, it's fair game. If you don't want to lose your gear, then don't leave it behind in a PUBLIC place. I wouldnt be crying over losing a solid-shaft #2.5 Friend, a short blue and orange knotted sling and two karabiners. Go buy yourself some decent gear.

Personal judgments aside, I think Ross should have been more careful with his gear and checked the second's rack when they were done. Why should someone else bring it back for them? I still stand by the fact that the gear was left in a public place, and therefore, it's finders keepers. Why should someone else waste their time to meet up with Ross and return his solid stem 2.5 friend and tatty slings? Let's just say that I have my suspicions as to why the gear was left behind...most likely in a puff of smoke

8a_climber are you trying to say that you find a car parked in a public place and the owner has left the keys in the car you are allowed to take the car because it is in a public place and therefore it is finders keepers?

The correct thing to do if you find other peoples gear on the mountain would be to take the gear down(so that someone else won't steal it) and then put a notice on climb.co.za to tell the person whose gear it is that you found their gear and to give their gear back to them.

8a_climber are you trying to say that you find a car parked in a public place and the owner has left the keys in the car you are allowed to take the car because it is in a public place and therefore it is finders keepers?

Yes. Correct you are. If you park your car and leave the keys, then you deserve to lose the vehicle. Finders keepers